Career Planning For Your Career Development Plan

Career Planning is an essential part of your career management process as it breaks down the individual steps you need to follow for your career success and satisfaction AND it involves being totally honest with yourself about where your career is going, or where you want it to go. To help you focus on where that might be, find out about the Best Careers to give you something to aim for.

Do you know the 6 questions you should be asking? The answers are here: 6 Questions

When you first start your career planning, you need to ask a number of questions to do with your career ambitions and once you have them answered, you will be able to outline a career development plan that will guide you throughout your career. If you've been away from work this approach is highly beneficial when you are returning to work after any extended period.

If you're not too sure what those questions should be, then this outline of a career development programme will show you the stages of what you would expect in a professionally conducted programme, which means you must consider the same issues.

Benefits of Career Development

A well conducted Career Development Programme will provide you with the answers and personal career planning support you need to find a new job quickly or ensure that your career is progressing in the right direction.

So, if you are experiencing major change or restructuring or are affected by redundancy or downsizing, you would benefit from pragmatic, professional advice and support that many career coaching or outplacement organisations provide.

You will find that with my own career development you can rely on my expertise as a business leader, owner and director which covers financial services, manufacturing including food production, pharmaceuticals, engineering and retail, plus sales and marketing.

Throughout my career, I have worked one-on-one with hundreds of people from all types of jobs and from the most senior to the most junior, so I am 100% confident that I can make the difference that you need to get you back on track and earning again fast!

6 Important Career Planning Questions

1. Do you know where you’re going?
   

2. Do you know how you’ll get there?
   

3. Are you making the most of your options?
   

4. Does anyone know about you?
   

5. What do others think about you?
   

6. How do you measure your impact?
   
   

Answering The First Question:

Do you know where you’re going?

• I know what position I want next.

  In my organization, the next natural progression for my career would be to work towards --- (fill this in yourself).
  

• I have a five-year plan for my career based on my own informal picture of the market.

  Other people tend to move into jobs like this (--- fill the gaps yourself) and I know whether that is a good direction for me personally.
  

• I have long-range goals for my career.

  By considering my career development plan over a long period, say 10 years, I know where I would like to get to. Using Steven Covey's principle of 'Starting With The End In Mind' I am able to work back from that point to determine my next steps.
  

• I have long-range goals for my personal life.

  These goals include health, family, spiritual, financial and social goals. Arriving at a balance of these goals provides greatest satisfaction and personal fulfillment.
  

• I know what skills or new knowledge will be required to progress in my job and my company.

  Taking careers planning issues into account plus current training and technology, I am certain of not only what I will need, but also HOW to achieve these skills.
  
  

The Second career Planning Question

The second important part of your career management process as it too involves being totally honest with yourself about where your career is going. In the first part of this career planning series, you asked the question about where you are going.

In this second part you need to ask a number of questions to do with how you aim to get to the destination you decided in part 1.

When you have answered that question, you will be able to plot a career development path that will guide you throughout your career.

Answering The Second Question:

Do you know how you'll get there?

Whatever you decided in the first part of this career planning series, in career planning 2nd part, the answers to these questions all need to be positive. If you can't say yes to these, then you need to examine why not.

• I have the right education and experience for the job I may want next and I am familiar with company policies and practices on career development.
  

• I seek out individuals who have information and skills that I need to understand. I use all available support (both formal and informal i.e. networking) to open up new options. for me.
  

• I have a role model, mentor or champion whom I can learn from.
  

• I regularly read journals, newspapers and books on management and business in general. I actively seek information about what is happening within the areas I work.
  

• I take care of myself physically and am described as a person with a lot of energy which I am seen to apply vigorously to my duties.
  

• I maintain balance between my work and my life outside work. I understand where and why work opportunities are increasing or declining which allows me to adjust my career plan appropriately.
  
  

The third question about your career options is dealt with here: Career Options.

In asking and answering these career planning questions, you are turning a 'wish-list' into a concrete goal. without the necessary factors in place it will never happen as you want it to.

Measuring your impact is also an important part of your career management process as it also involves being totally honest with yourself about whether your career planning is having an impact which is beneficial to you and noticed by those who make decisions affecting your career.

You need to ask these last three questions about your career planning impact and once you have them answered, you will be able to continue with your career development plan that will guide you throughout your career.

Career Planning Impact On Others

4. Does anyone know about you?

• My boss’s boss and other senior managers know who I am and where I work.
  

• I develop contacts in areas that do not have regular dealings with me, in order to broaden my network in the organization.
  

• I am energetic and enthusiastic about my company and job; I am happy to tell other people what I do for a living.
  

• I get involved in cross-departmental activities or problem solving groups, building my confidence, knowledge and internal network.
  

• I am visibly involved in a professional organisation, preferably in a leadership role and ensure I contribute to group discussions.
  

• I keep in regular contact with colleagues I have met at events, conferences and on training courses.
  

• I network with people I have previously worked with, keeping me in touch with external events and news.
  
  

5. What do others think about you?

• I feel I have a good relationship with my superiors and I can explain why.
  

• I feel I have a good relationship with people who work for me and I can explain why.
  

• I speak and listen to my customers regularly, and check that I understand their needs.
  

• I am seen as a problem solver and committed to action rather than passing the buck.
  

• I take actions and make suggestions to enhance the quality of my company’s products and services.
  
  

6. How do you measure your impact?

• I seek regular feedback regarding my role performance.
  

• I embrace the feedback and aim to improve my performance accordingly.
  

• I maintain contact with professionals in my field to know the value of my skills.
  

• My CV is kept up-to-date, well-organized and reflects the accomplishments of my career.
  

• I have recent experience of how others might see me (via my network or job application)
  

• I am ready and prepared to negotiate a job move should I want to or need to.
  
  

You are here: Career Planning

Return to the Career Change page or go back to Your Career Change home page.

You might also find it helpful to visit Career Management for some more tips on managing and planning your career, and how to Get Promoted.

Be sure to visit our Career Books Shop for extra reading and information.

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